The Yale-Brown-Cornell eating disorder scale in women with anorexia nervosa: what is it measuring?
OBJECTIVE
The Yale-Brown-Cornell Eating Disorder Scale (YBC-EDS) assesses eating disorder preoccupations, rituals, and symptom severity. This study examines the YBC-EDS in relation to eating disorder psychopathology, obsessionality, and impulsivity variables in women with anorexia nervosa (AN) and sensitivity of the YBC-EDS to change after psychotherapy.


METHODS
Participants were 56 women with "spectrum" AN (14.5 < BMI < 19). Variables examined in relation to the YBC-EDS were as follows: eating pathology, obsessionality (obsessive compulsive disorder and personality diagnoses, perfectionism), and impulsivity (borderline personality, impulsive traits, and behaviors). YBC-EDS scores were examined pre- and post-treatment.


RESULTS
Eating Disorder Examination scores most strongly predicted the YBC-EDS. As expected, perfectionism was significantly associated, but so was impulsivity. YBC-EDS scores were significantly different in those with good versus poor global outcome after therapy. Unexpectedly, maximum lifetime BMI was correlated with the YBC-EDS.


CONCLUSIONS
The YBC-EDS most strongly measured eating disorder severity and reflected change after psychotherapy for AN.
Jordan
Jennifer
J
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. jenny.jordan@otago.ac.nz
Joyce
Peter R
PR
Carter
Frances A
FA
McIntosh
Virginia V W
VV
Luty
Suzanne E
SE
McKenzie
Janice M
JM
Frampton
Christopher M A
CM
Bulik
Cynthia M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult